Zeng Yuqun is included in the 'Pattern' section not only because he built CATL with a trillion-yuan market value, but also because his two entrepreneurial ventures both delved into technological no-man's land, using long-termism to resist short-term temptations. Born into a humble family, he established himself through technology, from a state-owned enterprise iron rice bowl to working in the south, and then two ventures, each step reflecting a clear judgment of the industry's endgame. He does not chase trends but breaks foreign monopolies with hard-core technology and seizes global high ground with strategic determination. This pattern of transcending personal success and focusing on the mission of the times is exactly the archival value this column aims to preserve.

Zeng's entrepreneurial journey began in 1999 when he co-founded ATL in Hong Kong, focusing on polymer lithium batteries. Facing the industry-wide swelling problem, he led the team to test 7 formulations in two weeks, eventually overcoming the technical challenge, making ATL the first to mass-produce polymer soft-pack batteries, entering the supply chains of Apple, Samsung, Huawei, etc. In 2005, ATL was acquired by Japan's TDK, but Zeng did not stop; he foresaw that power batteries would become the main battlefield. In 2011, he returned to his hometown Ningde for a second venture, founding CATL. In the early days, funds were tight, with only three months of operating expenses; he mortgaged his personal property to raise funds and insisted on R&D investment. In 2012, CATL won a BMW order, becoming the first Chinese power battery company to enter the international luxury car supply chain. Subsequently, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, and others cooperated, and CATL gradually broke the foreign monopoly to become the global leader in power batteries. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

Zeng believes in technology-based and long-termism. He often says that he is not betting on a temporary trend but on the future of new energy. In management, he prioritizes R&D, spending at least two days a week on the front line. Facing technical challenges, he leads the team with the belief of 'only find ways to succeed, not excuses for failure.' In key battles, winning the BMW order in 2012 was a turning point, proving the technical strength of Chinese power batteries. Subsequently, he focused on ternary lithium batteries and continuously launched innovative products such as sodium-ion batteries and Qilin batteries, while expanding the entire industry chain including energy storage and recycling, building a global new energy landscape. He emphasizes talent cultivation, having donated over 3.4 billion yuan to education, believing that the ultimate competition in industry is for talent. ^{[5] [6] [8] [9]}

Under Zeng's leadership, CATL has long been among the top in global power battery shipments, with market share ranking among the top globally for many years, becoming a Chinese name card in the global new energy field. He not only promoted the advancement of power battery technology but also drove the rise of China's new energy industry chain, transforming China from a battery manufacturing powerhouse to a technology leader. His success story inspires countless entrepreneurs, demonstrating a path from a farmer's son to a global industry leader. He is low-key and pragmatic, not chasing trends, but laying out with long-termism, integrating personal efforts into the national science and technology future, and is regarded by the industry as a representative figure in China's manufacturing industry. ^{[7] [9] [10]}

Zeng Yuqun leaves a business proposition: how to use long-termism to navigate cycles in a technology-driven industry. He proved that true leaders do not chase short-term trends but position themselves before industry inflection points through continuous technical accumulation and strategic determination. His success lies not only in CATL's global leadership but also in winning a voice for China's new energy industry. His life trajectory, from a farmer's son to a global leader in the lithium battery industry, provides a model of persistence, technology, and pattern for future generations.